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Minister's frustration about Jays Day shows a religious arrogance

I was reading Vanessa De La Torre's Feb. 26 article, Dunedin's timing of Jays' fest rankles minister, and was disheartened to think of what our world has come to when the religious establishment has now come to expect the "courtesy" of being asked when an all-inclusive event could be held that competes with their own narrow-focus church services. That was kind of the last straw.

Isn't it enough that these religious institutions don't pay taxes, use our municipal services (including police to make sure church patrons aren't inconvenienced and receive a fast track out of the parking lot on Sundays), and in general freeload on the general populace? Is anyone else out there concerned about the Republicans and the creeping, general religious highjacking of American values and rights? Iraq may be inching toward democracy but we are fast tracking toward a theocracy.

The church should have no greater standing in the Jays matter than any other entity. If the pastor expects to be consulted on these matters, then so do I.

Racial notation in headline widens divide

Re: Largo gets new mayor, black commissioner, headline, March 8.

Shouldn't this headline read Largo gets new white mayor, black commissioner, or how about Largo gets new mayor, new commissioner? Why is it that race must be noted at all? Should we be surprised because the new commissioner happens to be black or should we be upset because we have a new commissioner? I'm confused.

Racial adjectives only serve to perpetuate and widen the divide. We have a new commissioner because he's skilled at what he does, not because he's black.

Theater fuss shows little understanding

Re: Movie theater apologizes, story, March 3.

In response to the Matt Brown incident, and the people who agree with what the movie theater management did, those people either do not have children or are fortunate not to have a disabled child.

It is very difficult to care for a disabled person 24/7. I applaud Matt's mother for taking him out.

If other patrons have a problem, they could ask management for a ticket to come back, or maybe they should stay home and rent movies themselves.

This just shows the ignorance of people and how spoiled with "me" syndrome society has become.

I, too, have been to a theater with annoying children/teens, and most of them can help what they are doing (i.e., talking, throwing things, cell phones, kicking seats, etc.), they just don't care. I'm sure we all did things to annoy people in our younger years.

But disabled people cannot always control what they are doing and need extra patience. Matt should not have been discriminated against and kicked out.

Safety Harbor election may reflect anger

Re: Experience, records key in Safety Harbor races, editorial recommendation, March 5.

Ultimately, the voters of Safety Harbor will decide their level of happiness or anger on March 14. However, regarding your recommendation comments, take a look around the city. I have lived here 22 years and have never seen this many signs for any Safety Harbor election. Apparently, something has our attention.

My guess is that a lot of people are angry at the use of Safety Harbor as a real estate ATM.

Developers buy property with regard only to how it will make them money. They have no thought or care about the actual town of Safety Harbor - only that it "seems quaint." That surface perception allows them to squeeze out every cent they can get while destroying the true small town aspect.

Love that bungalow downtown? Oops, just got bought and will be torn down for two cinder block snout houses starting at $500,000.

Development is inevitable - we all understand that - and Safety Harbor is just a microcosm of the development pressures all over Florida. But in the most populous county in the state, we like to think of Safety Harbor as the last true small town in Pinellas.

We miss our senior center, seeing friends

How is it that the City of Clearwater has not taken up the challenge of a senior center? Why is our building and the van there still unoccupied? What of the funds that were in our account when we were evicted so unceremoniously?

How long would you have us travel to other towns and pay out-of-town charges to get together?

We are scattered all over, never seeing some of our former friends and having no access to meeting places and kitchens. We do also miss our dances, trips, craft and art classes, and Sunday entertainment, and also the services: i.e., tax preparation, driving course, and information about current needs.

Doesn't anyone "up there" care about us anymore?

Dunedin is delightful without districts

Re: Dunedin race draws seven hopefuls, story, Feb. 26.

The 1995 Charter Review Committee considered the possibility of designated/numbered seats for the City Commission. After careful consideration, the committee made a conscious decision that such a requirement is not characteristic of this close-knit community, that it would promote factionalism and voting blocs with competing interests (e.g., one section of town against another).

In short, we said, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it!" That is a premise that helps make this community "Delightful Dunedin." Members of the 1995 committee were Bob Burdewick, Allen Kynes, Geale Miller, Julie Scales (now a city commissioner) and this writer as committee chair. Wayne Daily, Judge Gil Levy and George Wolfe were ex-officio members.

The City Commission has given the current Charter Review Committee direction to focus on whether to recommend designated/numbered seats. Has Dunedin changed that much in 10 years? Perhaps so, perhaps not.

[Last modified March 9, 2006, 03:00:34]